Sakura Mikan laid sprawled on her bed, long flowing brown hair loose and scattered messily over her pillow. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. For some reason, she felt something different in her room today, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Perhaps she was just tired? She did stay out with Hotaru and the others all day, save for Natsume who had mysteriously disappeared after lunch.
The brunette shifted to her other side, still wondering why she couldn't sleep. Mikan began toying with her hair; twirling and twisting the silky strands around her fingers. Suddenly, a thump reached her ears, causing her to sit up on her bed. The child looked around, frightened. No one could have possibly broken into the academy, right?
Cautiously, Mikan lifted herself of her bed and once more looked wearily around the room. She didn't see anything so far; not under the bed, not behind the curtains... There was only one place she hadn't checked.
Exaggerated tension followed as Mikan stared at her closet in fear. Whatever crept into her room was under her closet, it was the only place left unchecked. Slowly she tip-toed towards her closet, gulping as silently as she could as to not alert whoever was there. Gradually, the distance between the girl and the closet disappeared. Her stomach churned in fear as her over-active imagination manufactured the most unlikely of situations.
"What's wrong with you?" A familiar voice called from inside the closet, just as Mikan was preparing herself to peek and discover the person that had hidden in her room.
"Natsume! What are you doing here?" She asked immediately, embarrassed and surprised at the raven's presence in the room. The male pulled himself out of the closet, brushing himself off and staring at his host calmly.
"We have a long weekend, I decided to take a break." Mikan was confused at first, then remember what the danger class "assignments" were. Her confusion was not completely gone, though.
"Why are you here, then? What does my room have to do with any of this?" He just stared at her with piercing eyes, as if he were grudgingly staying at her room as well.
"Nullification Alice. I overheard the teachers saying you alice sometimes blurred that stupid crystal ball." He explained a tone of finality piercing through every word. He glared at her, daring her to deny him his wish of a small holiday. Mikan only gulped, the thought of rejecting the prodigy never once crossing her mind. Natsume walked towards the bed, setting himself down as if in his own room. "Only one star..." The brunette heard the raven mutter. Despite being angered by the comment, she held her tongue. He wasn't leaving her room, she knew, she had no wish to make the environment tense.
"Wait, you mentioned the long weekend... Today's Saturday, were you here yesterday?" Mikan stared at her classmate in horror as he nodded calmly. She began worrying over what she may have done during her sleep. She hoped nothing embarrassing slipped through her mouth while she slept soundly.
"You know, you sleep-talk." Her face was the pure image of horror. Mikan swore he read her mind, or she was just very readable.
"What did I say?" All he did was stare at her blankly, although with a tinge of anger hidden in the hazel eyes.
Natsume covered his mouth politely as he yawned, signaling he was tired. He motioned towards her bed, after standing up, and silently ordered her to sleep. Mikan complied, but only because she began to feel a bit tired herself, she told herself mentally. Settling herself under the warm blankets, she was able to fall into a deep sleep, Natsume forgotten in her dreams.
Natsume pulled out a blanket from the closet and dumped it on the carpet. He sat down beside the brunette's bed, waiting for her breathing to even out.
Tsubasa, Ruka, and Narumi. Those had been the names Mikan had called out during her sleep, rather dreamily he added. Hearing her mutter those names, even unconscious, had angered him. Lately it had been like that; he could not even see the stupid brunette talking with anyone without feeling anger boiling inside him. Without even knowing, his hostility levels doubled. Only Ruka dared interrupt him in such a mood.
Mikan's breathing was already even by now, and Natsume could barely contain himself. He had a theory that the cause of all these weird happening were something adults called puberty. He wasn't sure how it worked or what it was exactly, but he had a feeling that was the cause. It could only be that...
He didn't even notice how or when he was standing up next to the girl's bed and stroking her cheek. As soon as he realized what he was doing he slapped his hand away, staring at the sleeping girl fearfully. He didn't know why, but something about her attracted him like a magnet. It frustrated and scared him, this had never happened before. He was even embarrassed of what was happening to him. He had not said a word to Ruka, but Natsume could tell his best friend understood what was happening to him.
All he could do was sigh and curse underneath his breath at his idiocy. He told Mikan he hid in her room for a vacation, which was true he did not tell a single lie there, but he was getting worked up over other matters. It was annoying. He had told himself he would enjoy this small break, and he would. He deserved it.
Natsume nestled himself comfortably under the blankets, readying himself for sleep. He hoped he could escape his problems at least in his dreams, like everyone usually did. Sadly, life wasn't that kind to him.
First chapter done! I think this fic will be a two-shot, but it may, if I feel I left something out or need to add something, be longer. Please tell me what you all think. All reviews, criticism included, are welcome! Be it a small two word review or a big paragraph, I welcome and read them all!